Newcastle United

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Mikel Arteta makes just one change to the side that lost to Manchester City last week. Ben White comes in for Cristhian Mosquera. There's good news for the Gunners too as Bukayo Saka returns to the matchday squad for the first time since the Carabao Cup Final defeat in March following an Achilles injury.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Havertz

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Trossard, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman

Bruno Guimaraes starts as Newcastle United make five changes for the trip to the Emirates.

The Newcastle captain lines up from the off for the first time since February after returning to action as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth last week following a spell out.

Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy have also been recalled as head coach Eddie Howe looks to end a four-game losing streak in all competitions.

Newcastle starting XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Murphy, Osula, Willock

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Wissa, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Neave

Image source, Getty Images

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Fulham v Aston Villa (12:30)

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace

• West Ham v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wolves v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Newcastle (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also watch, listen a follow live text of the FA Cup semi-final between Man City and Southampton here (kick-off 17:15)

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Newcastle", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

I did not think Arsenal's defeat at Manchester City last week spelled the end of their title hopes and watching City struggle to put Burnley away on Wednesday must have been a boost for their players.

I know the result still knocked the Gunners off the top of the table but that was not the kind of performance that suggested Pep Guardiola's side are just going to march to the title from here.

However you want to view Arsenal's recent form, they know they are still in the race - especially because goal difference could decide the title.

I've been in this situation myself in a title race and, while I am sure both managers will say that it is just about making sure they win their own games, you cannot ignore the fact that the season starts now and goal difference could be important.

That's why, if I was an Arsenal player sat at home watching City against Burnley, I would have been thinking that 1-0 is OK for us.

They are level now, on points and goal difference, and the Gunners still have Burnley to play, but at home.

So, it is there for them, but they have to get past this game first.

Newcastle have given Arsenal a good game when they've met in recent seasons and there has been a bit of needle between the two sides.

Right now, though, Eddie Howe's side have a few injury problems on top of their dismal form.

They have dropped off their usual level and they look a bit flimsy to me. It feels like a good time to play them and I don't think this will be as close.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Arsenal have the chance to move three points clear of title rivals Manchester City if they can beat an out-of-form Newcastle at the Emirates on Saturday (17:30 BST). BBC Sport analyses the key talking points ahead of the match.

Gunners seek return to winning form

Arsenal's 209-day run at the top of the table came to an end on Wednesday night as Manchester City finally leapfrogged them on goals scored.

With the sides locked on 70 points and with an identical goal difference of +37, this looks set to be one of the tightest title races in history.

With City not in league action this weekend due to their FA Cup commitments, the Gunners have two home games before Pep Guardiola's side play again on Bank Holiday Monday, so could open up a six-point lead.

But to do that they must address their shocking run of form. After losing just three of their first 49 matches of the season in all competitions (W37, D9) they have lost four of the last six and have suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time since December 2023.

Mikel Arteta will be glad to see the arrival of May next week. Since he took charge of the Gunners they have taken just 40 points from 27 games played in April and a whopping 18% of all top-flight defeats the club have suffered under him have also been in the fourth month of the year.

Despite their recent wobbles Opta's supercomputer still has the Gunners as favourites to win the title at 65% and they will be buoyed by their excellent league record against Newcastle.

Howe under pressure as poor run goes on

Newcastle are in worse form than Arsenal having lost eight of their last 11 league games. In fact, only Tottenham and Burnley have lost more top-flight matches than Newcastle in 2026.

This relegation form has led to serious questions being asked of head coach Eddie Howe. He maintains he is still the right man for the job and that he will "fight to the end", but it will be interesting to see how much credit he has left in the bank as a result of leading them to their first domestic trophy for 70 years last season.

Legendary striker Alan Shearer cast doubt on whether Howe will still be at the helm next season and lambasted the players for their performance against Bournemouth. "They were terrible," he said on his podcast. "They chucked him under the bus, the players. It is a tough situation, a tough summer for Newcastle coming up. They have got some big decisions to make. As I am sat here, I don't see Eddie in charge of Newcastle next season, unfortunately."

Mitigation does comes in the form of key players being unavailable due to injury and the team Howe put out against the Cherries was their youngest starting XI in a Premier League game since May 2005, having an average age of just 24 years and 191 days.

The Geordies have no respite as they travel to the Emirates, a ground where they have managed just one league win in 17 attempts and none in the last 13. Only Stoke City, who have lost on all 10 of their visits, average fewer points per game than Newcastle do at the Emirates since it opened in 2006. They have taken a total of just five points from 51 available and have scored just one goal on their last nine trips.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was always going to be a significant window at Newcastle United, but this summer could be even bigger than those inside the club imagined just a few months ago.

Head coach Eddie Howe recognised he has to ensure he is "delivering his best" to create a winning environment again as his future comes under increased scrutiny.

But he suggested the stakes were high for his squad following a run of eight defeats in 11 league games.

"If the team's not performing then, potentially, there might be bigger changes in the summer than was maybe previously first thought," he said.

"I think you have to react to what you see and that goes on a daily basis, a weekly basis, behind the scenes. It's about attitude, commitment to the team."

It may appear from the outside that Newcastle's season is as good as over, but it therefore still feels like there is a lot riding on these final five games, starting with Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

As poor as Newcastle's league record is at the Emirates, these are the sorts of matches in which Howe's team have traditionally raised their game.

They desperately need to once more in order to restore some pride.

"People will be looking closely at us at the moment and rightly so," he added.

"We need to give the right answers and we need to give the right feeling in terms of how we're conducting ourselves in these moments, which is where I think you're truly judged.

"We need to show really good strength of character. We're looking for a massive performance."

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe gave an update on defender Tino Livramento, who was injured against Bournemouth last Saturday. "He went for a scan initially, we don't think it's a bad injury. Wait and see whether he'll play again this season but he will have another scan at the weekend to determine the full extent of his time out."

• He added Livramento is "very level-headed and stable mentally" but has had a "frustrating season, which is the life of a footballer".

• On Anthony Gordon: "He won't make the game, hasn't trained this week. Not a serious injury but not in time for this game, hopefully the next one."

• Howe said that Bruno Guimaraes "has had a full week of training and he has trained really well. He's such an important player for us on so many levels that of course we are keen to get him on the pitch as soon as possible".

• On recruitment: "If the team is not performing, there may be bigger changes [in the summer] than first thought. The players understand the job they are in. There is a responsibility to be at your best."

• On Newcastle's poor form: "We're all feeling that pain at the moment, we're determined to put that right and win as many games as possible. Players are lacking a bit of confidence but we can find that through hard work, good training and trying to enjoy their football and find their best form again. We need to perform most of all for our supporters."

• Asked why Nick Woltemade isn't starting, Howe said: "It's difficult because our centre-forwards have been productive for us. Anthony Gordon played up front against Chelsea and Sunderland. Will Osula has come in and he has scored as the number nine so it's difficult. You have to reward players for what they deliver and at the moment, I have gone with a different option to Nick so there's no problem on his fitness. Obviously when he plays, he has to try and do the same and deliver the goals that we need."

• He added on Woltemade and Yoane Wissa: "Like with every player that is not playing, they have to show their worth in training and that's their shop window for me to pick them. How they train, how they commit to the training and how much they are prepared to put individual disappointment to the side for the team to then come back fighting but I believe in both players still, I've got no issues with either of them. They have unique qualities to offer the team but it's got to be on merit and deserved. They are both outstanding players and will be better for next season."

• On five wins out of five to secure European football: "Five wins out of five are needed for ourselves, for the club, for everybody. We aren't looking at it for Europe, we're looking at it like we need to win a game. First step is win a game and then try and win another one."

• Howe said Newcastle "have lost a bit of confidence with the recent results that we have had" and hopes they will get back to their best levels "individually and collectively".

• On criticism Anthony Elanga has faced: "He's handled everything that he has faced this season with real integrity. He will continue to improve and get better and he has so much potential. I really believe in him and hopefully he can finish the season strongly."

• Howe said Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) meeting next week is "something that happens regularly" and he "always likes the chance to talk directly to the owners and express things".

You can hear Howe speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds here or by hitting play on the clip above

Listen to full match commentary of Arsenal v Newcastle on BBC Radio 5 Live at 17:30 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Newcastle? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Some of you are sending questions via our Ask Me Anything about Newcastle form.

One of them put my way asked would selling a key player or multiple key players like Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento or Lewis Hall show the Public Investment Fund (PIF) are not committed to this project?

My answer is not necessarily.

It has always been made clear behind the scenes at Newcastle United that the club had the backing from the very top to spend to the maximum within the financial rules.

However, to generate the sorts of revenues needed to truly compete, Newcastle cannot just rely on owner funding like clubs did in a previous era given the regulations now in place.

In order to boost income streams, they therefore need to be regularly competing in the Champions League, find ways to turbocharge commercial revenue and trade more strategically.

That means departures are inevitable this summer as Newcastle are going to need to sell to rebuild, particularly if Eddie Howe's side miss out on the top five and any European football whatsoever, which is looking increasingly likely.

Personally, I think the biggest judge of the owners' commitment will be what happens with the club's infrastructure projects which, obviously, fall outside the Premier League and Uefa's financial regulations.

An announcement regarding a major capital investment is in the pipeline as we continue to wait for updates on the possible site for a new state-of-the-art training base and a decision on the future of St James' Park.

A PIF delegation are due on Tyneside next week for a series of summits and I would expect their commitment to the club to be underlined then after the fund scaled back a number of other investments elsewhere.

Newcastle's hierarchy speak to the PIF every day and maintain the owners remain deeply supportive.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

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The Newcastle United page you are currently visiting has been packed with debate over Eddie Howe's future and the Magpies' perceived failings this season.

Too reliant on Bruno Guimaraes? Missing Alexander Isak? Not getting enough from new strikers? The list of reasons and frustrations is abundant.

This weekend Howe's side go to Arsenal having lost eight of their past 11 Premier League matches. In that timeframe - since late January - no side has lost more in the Premier League.

It is an ugly statistic but does it hide the fine margins Howe is paying so dearly for?

In their past nine Premier League matches Newcastle have either been won (three) or lost (six) by exactly one goal.

In top-flight history, there have only been three occasions a team had 10 or more successive games settled by exactly one goal - Everton between October and December 1911 (10), West Ham between December 1964 and February 1965 (10) and Southampton in March and April 1992 (12).

So while Newcastle are struggling, they are coming down on the wrong side of tight fixtures.

Reason for hope maybe, within the sea of questions.

Barcelona are leading the race for Eduardo Conceicao, with Newcastle United, Manchester City and Manchester United also interested in the 16-year-old Palmeiras forward. Any move to Europe could not happen until he turns 18 next year. (TeamTalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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The latest news and views on the Magpies in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Disappointment is morphing into the resentment of having to watch the same movie, with the same depressing ending, time and again at Newcastle United.

This season's plot has to have an uplifting ending, or else the club will lose trust in manager Eddie Howe.

For Chelsea down at Stamford Bridge, the anger of the 'legacy fans' was creeping towards resignation, but the protest before their latest loss to Manchester United has shown there is some fight left with the supporters.

They feel let down by a club spinning towards mid-table mediocrity, after spending a king's ransom, but also feel disregarded by an ownership who appear arrogant and aloof, and do not want to listen to them.

One fan said: "BlueCo have stolen my club." This is harsh, they legally bought it and feel they have the right to do whatever they like with it.

But for many Chelsea fans right now, bought or stolen - the two outcomes feel the same.

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Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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Another week, another loss. This is a familiar feeling for Newcastle fans. It was once our comfort zone. But it was our comfort zone when we were told our only ambition was to keep "ticking along" and to stay in the Premier League by the skin of our teeth. That has not been the stated ambition for some time now, so you can see why this feels extra jarring and difficult.

This weekend's game brought the Eddie Howe question closer to the surface. My concern going into St James' Park on Saturday was the crowd. We're a vocal fanbase; if we don't like what's happening at our club that will make itself heard. That in itself is fine - but I was worried about the potential toxicity of it all.

This has been a divisive time. At least under previous managers, when things were bad, there wasn't any particular historic success to hark back to. No goodwill to tide the manager over for some. This time is different.

As it was, the stadium made it clear that what was happening on the pitch on Saturday was unacceptable. Boos at half time, boos at Tonali's substitution, boos at full time. They weren't overwhelming - and they were punctuated with some songs getting behind the manager and team - but they were there and louder than they have been.

It felt to me like we were trying to make ourselves clear without being disrespectful. Relegation form is not OK. The players' apparent lack of interest is not OK. But we are still grateful for the incredible memories we have from this management.

Whatever change happens - player shake-up, manager shake-up, a secret third shake-up nobody has told me about - we will be there. We love our club. That's why the past few months have been so painful.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

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Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says there is a "lack of belief" in the current side as they continue to endure a poor run of results.

Saturday's home defeat by Eddie Howe's former side Bournemouth was their third in a row and continued a run of eight Premier League defeats in 11 games.

"Little bits of the performance were better than they have been," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I thought we started well, for 15 minutes the tempo of the game was good, but then we lost our way a bit again.

"We started getting sloppy and didn't keep the ball well enough. From starting the game well, we then lost our way for whatever reason. We know Bournemouth are a good side, they have got players who keep the ball well, they have good movement and energy.

"But, yet again, we didn't create enough, work the goalkeeper enough. You could count on one hand the number of saves the goalkeeper had to make and that's been a problem in recent games.

"We just haven't been working goalkeepers enough and there's a lack of belief there.

"There were just players who weren't at it against Bournemouth. They now need to win five out of five to have any chance of Europe."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

Newcastle United will sell Anthony Gordon, 25, to Bayern Munich if the German champions match their £75m valuation for the England forward. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Brian: Very poor performance and poor gameplan. Eddie Howe has had a full season to show he knows what he is doing and this season identifies why he should be replaced along with non-performing management and coaches. Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon will be at better performing clubs next season and that is understandable as they want to play at the highest level.

Ozzy: When you get down to basics these players have let Eddie Howe down and of course the fans. Some are simply not good enough. I would give Howe time to correct this season, but I doubt the owners are going to give him that time. It's an awful end for a man who is a great bloke and has done so much for us.

G8: I was at the game. We lack leadership on the pitch. We also couldn't get any rhythm and the players were out of sync. I'd put the experience of Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn back in. William Osula tried, but he needs to put some muscle on. The three in attack were woeful.

Lee: Eddie has done amazing things for the club. But in his pre- game press conferences he says we will do X, Y and Z, then in the game it's the opposite. Has he lost the dressing room? These players get paid an awful lot of money. If they were in a normal job some would be under disciplinary procedures or given the boot.

Bournemouth fans

Simon: Fantastic to get the win. A great controlled display against a passive Newcastle. The points were there for the taking which will sicken Eddie Howe. I am proud the unbeaten record stretches to 13 games. The players clearly love Andoni Iraola and they fought even harder despite his now known departure. Keep going Cherries so Andoni can leave us with Europe next season.

Dave: 25 points from 23 games! That's Champions League form across a whole season. This Iraola side must be the best side in the Premier League, pound-for-pound.

Stewart: So proud of the team, supporting their coach to the end - wonderful. It's such a tribute to a truly great coach. As a lifetime Cherries supporter I wish him all the luck in the world - thank you Andoni.

David: We are forever developing! None more than Petrovic, who kept us in the game. James Hill and Evanilson are the unsung players. We have a super midfield engine in Ryan Christie, Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier. It's a great pity Marcos Senesi is leaving as he's brilliant.

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter

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My broadcasting position on Saturday for BBC Final Score was in amongst the Newcastle fans, so it was a fascinating insight into their state of mind in a run of eight Premier League defeats in 11 games for the side.

The atmosphere around me was flat in the first half with bursts of anger and frustration from some of the supporters, before boos at half time.

Yes, the crowd was lifted by the equaliser from William Osula, but after Adrien Truffert's winner for Bournemouth, the boos were much louder at the full-time whistle.

Make no mistake, Magpies boss Eddie Howe is under huge pressure, and there are fans who appear to have lost faith in his ability to get this team back on track.

When I walked into the post-match news conference, Howe was being asked if he thinks this situation can be turned around, and he brought up the return of Bruno Guimaraes as a possible "catalyst".

But, what caught the attention of the journalists in the room was Howe's pause after a question about whether his squad shares "his fire" to get back to winning ways.

Eventually - after the hesitation - he insisted that day in, day out, he sees a group of players "always giving their all."

There are now five games left this season for Newcastle, starting with a tough trip to Arsenal, and despite all the good times since his arrival at the club, Howe will surely know that he's now fighting to win back the support and the faith of the fan base.

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This may prove Eddie Howe's biggest challenge yet on Tyneside.

That is saying something when this is the man who ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup last season.

This is the man who led his side to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.

This is the man who kept Newcastle up in 2022 after taking over a winless side in deep relegation trouble only a few months previously.

This overall body of work is why Match of the Day pundit Dion Dublin has "no worries" about Howe.

"They hit such heights very quickly in his tenure, where everybody is expecting them to stay there," Dublin told BBC's Final Score.

"With the amount of injuries and stuff that he's had with this squad, it was never going to happen, but it's down to him now to make sure that he gets them back to the levels he's set."

Momentum is against Newcastle, though.

After coming out fighting on the eve of this game, declaring his fire was "burning very strongly", Howe looked glassy-eyed in his news conference following this latest defeat.

Asked if his players had the same fire, he tellingly took a seven-second pause before responding.

"I'm hesitating because I'm speaking on behalf of other people and that's very difficult to do," he said.

"I believe they do. From what I see in the training ground, I don't see any sense of poor attitude or poor commitment to their work.

"I see a group of players that are always giving their all."

Not only are Newcastle failing to see much of a return from a £100m-plus net recruitment drive that Howe was heavily involved in.

Newcastle are still searching for a lasting solution after striker Alexander Isak pushed to join Liverpool last summer.

Over the course of a draining season, Howe has pivoted from Woltemade to Wissa to Anthony Gordon and now Osula, who came mightily close to joining Eintracht Frankfurt on deadline day last September.

It sums up Howe's desperate search for a formula as his future comes under increasing scrutiny.

"It's disappointing when you are not delivering for your supporters," he said.

"That is the ultimate disappointment when you feel you are letting people down who come here and support us.

"If they are critical of us, we have to accept that as that's the game we are in."

Read more on Howe's Newcastle future